DI Kate Ashurst and DS Emma Scribbins investigate the mysterious death of affluent party girl Nikki Pengelly. Her distraught fiancé Ralph blames Nikki's besotted ex-husband Gavin but the investigation leads the detectives to the Applejacks dating agency, run by Redmond Appleby and his wife Maxine and a back-to-school disco. Then Ralph's bitter ex-girlfriend Hazel goes missing.
Neighbour from hell Bernard Lloyd is bludgeoned to death with a hammer so DI Kate Ashurst and DS Emma Scribbins pay a visit to Cherry Meadows, the cul-de-sac which was disturbed by his non-stop DIY. Suspects include Bernard's pill-popping wife Wendy bitter pensioner Reg Thornton and Chloe and Patrick Walters who felt the victim was ruining their chances of selling their home.